Enter the Shielded Site

Born: October 1, 1914 – Rarotonga
Died: April 10, 1986
Test record: 0 Tests
Tours: 1939 tour of Britain

Richmond second-rower George Mitchell was among the unfortunate batch of players who did not feature in either of the Kiwis’ two matches on the 1939 tour to Britain before it was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.

An All Blacks triallist while playing rugby union for Feilding College Old Boys and Manawatu, Mitchell moved north and switched codes before representing New Zealand Māori in a famous 16-5 win over the 1937 Australian tourists.

Mitchell, whose brother Alf played for New Zealand in 1935, scored two tries for Richmond in a win over a Combined City side boasting several Australian internationals in 1939. But he was one of only five players that did not appear for the Kiwis against St Helens and Dewsbury prior to the tour being halted.

He was a regular for New Zealand Māori during the 1940s and trialled for the 1947-48 Kiwis but was fated never to wear the black-and-white jersey on the field of play.